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HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

AND, BY THE PSEG FOUNDATION.

>> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US, I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

BRIANA VANNOZZI IS OFF.

WE ARE JUST ONE WEEK OUT FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID WOULD MARK THE START OF COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

A KEY FDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS SET TO MEET TO DISCUSS BOOSTERS ON FRIDAY.

GOVERNOR MURPHY TODAY SAID THE STATE IS STILL AWAITING WORD ON FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION, BUT DESPITE THE WAITING GAME, STATE OFFICIALS ARE RAMPING UP CAPACITY AND PREPARING TO REOPEN THREE MEGA SITES TO MEET WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTING WILL BE VERY HIGH DEMAND.

NEARLY 2 1/2 MILLION RESIDENTS WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AS OF MARCH COULD BECOME ELIGIBLE, DEPENDING ON THOSE GUIDELINES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS COMES AS A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE W.H.O.

AND FDA SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE YET TO SHOW BOOSTERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION, ARGUING THE CURRENT VACCINE DOSES STILL PROVIDE STRONG PROTECTION.

IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 5.7 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED.

AND, MORE THAN 67,000 PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THEIR DOSE.

THOSE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY AUTHORIZED FOR PEOPLE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

GETTING THOSE SHOTS IN THE ARMS AROUND THE WORLD COULD INVENT NEW VARIANTS FROM ARISING.

THE LATEST VARIANT OF INTEREST IS CALLED YOU, AND IT'S ALREADY HERE IN THE GARDEN STATE.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW VARIANT.

>> IT DOES SPREAD FASTER THAN OTHER VARIANTS, AND IT DOES SEEM TO BE CAUSING SLIGHTLY MORE SEVERE ILLNESS, AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNING AMONGST PEOPLE WHO WERE UNVACCINATED.

>> EPIDEMIOLOGIST, STEPHANIE SILVERA SAYS TESTING SHOWS COVERTS NEW STRENGTH NAME FOR THE GREEK ALPHABET 12 LETTER IS IN ALL 50 U.S. STATES WITH 16 CASES DETECTED IN NEW JERSEY.

THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT JERZY DOES DNA SEQUENCING ON ONLY 10% OF COVERT CASES.

>> THE NUMBER OF CASES ARE PROBABLY HIGHER.

WE ARE NOT GENOTYPING EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN WITH COVID.

IT IS A SURVEILLANCE TESTING, SO THERE MAY BE MORE.

THAT SAID, RIGHT NOW, THE DELTA VARIANT SEEMS TO STILL SPREAD FAR MORE EASILY.

>> THE DELTA VARIANT STILL DOMINATES IN THE 98% OF INFECTIONS BUT IN COLUMBIA, IT'S COST 39% OF COVERT INFECTIONS, AND IT IS THE FIFTH COVID VARIANT OF INTEREST NAMED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ACCORDING TO RECORDS DEAN.

>> RECALLED DELTA VARIED INTEREST BECAUSE OF MONTHS AND MONTHS AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.

IT'S BEGINNING TO EMERGE SLOWLY BUT SURELY.

>> SUFFERING MUTATIONS THAT ARE WORRISOME.

AND, IN THE LABORATORY, THEY SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE TO EVADE THE TYPES OF IMMUNE PROTECTION THAT WE ARE GETTING FROM OUR CURRENT COVID VACCINE.

>> LAB STUDIES SUGGEST VACCINES SHOW A 77% ADVOCACY RATE AGAINST THEM.

SCIENTISTS INSIST THAT THAT IS STILL GOOD.

BUT THEY NEED MORE DATA TO ASSESS ACTUAL THREAT LEVEL.

RUTGERS, DR. STANLEY WISE ADVISES JERSEY SHOULD REVAMP ITS GENOME AND TESTING POLICY, AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT EMPHASIS ON SERIOUSLY ILL COVERT CASES.

>> THAT IS A MISTAKE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO KEEP IN FRONT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE, WE DON'T HAVE A FEW AS TO WHAT THE NEXT THING THAT MAY BE COMING.

>> HEALTH EXPERTS CAST A WIDER NET ESPECIALLY FOR VIRUS VARIANTS AMONG BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

IT POINTS TO THE RISING PERCENTAGE OF JERSEY HOSPITAL PATIENTS WHO END UP IN CRITICAL CARE.

IN MID JULY, OUT OF 309 HOSPITALIZED COVID PATIENTS, ALMOST 18% OF THEM WENT TO THE ICU WITH ABOUT 7 1/2% ON VENTILATORS.

THIS MONTH, OUT OF MORE THAN 1100 HOSPITAL, 22% WENT ICU WITH ALMOST 12% ON BENCH.

THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER CONFIRMED VENTILATOR USE IS RISING.

THEMATICALLY KEEP AN EYE ON IT, IT IS A 20% INCREASE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS FOR IT BUT, IT IS CERTAINLY NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THE OTHER SEARCHES, THE USE OF VENTILATORS AND THE OTHER SEARCHES .4 THAT GETS TO THE ISSUE OF HOW BAD IS THE DELTA VARIANT BECAUSE THE DISEASE.

>> WE SHOULD BE STUDYING BREAKTHROUGH CASES MORE CLOSELY, QUITE FRANKLY.

>> WITH MORE INFECTIOUS AND POTENTIALLY MORE SERIOUS PROLIFERATING, NEW JERSEY MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY THEY ARE BRACING FOR THE OUTCOME OF SCHOOL OPENINGS HERE AFTER SEEING THE DEADLY SURGEON CLASSROOMS DOWN SOUTH.

>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK, KIDS ARE GOING TO GET SICK, TEACHERS ARE GOING TO GET SICK.

TEACHERS ARE GOING TO DIE.

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?

BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THEY ARE URGING FOLKS WERE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID AND ALL ITS VARIANTS ARE ALPHA.

>> THE ANALOGY I USE IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO JUMP OUT OF A PLANE, DO YOU WANT A PARACHUTE EVEN THE PARACHUTES TO HAVE A FAIL RATE.

YOU'RE STILL MORE LIKELY TO BE SAFE THAN NOT.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

NEW MEXICO PANDEMIC HAS DEEPLY IMPACTED NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS, JUST AS 9/11 DID 20 YEARS BEFORE.

I WOKE WITH NJ SPOTLIGHTS HEALTHCARE WRITER, LILO STANTON ABOUT HOW LESS IS MORE WITH THE INFLUENCE IN THE STATES RESPONSE TO COVID-19.

TWO VERY SEPARATE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES, BUT THERE WAS SOME SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.

WHAT DID YOU FIND WITH YOUR REPORTING?

>> 20 YEARS AFTER AN EVENT LIKE 9/11, WE ARE LOOKING BACK, WE ARE THINKING THROUGH WHAT HAS CHANGED.

IT IS HARD NOT TO ASK.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE CURRENT CRISIS, RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CLEARLY SOME BIG DIFFERENCES.

YOU KNOW, 9/11 TO ME, SEEMED, I WAS THERE.

IT SEEMED SO SUDDEN, AND SHOCKING, AND IMMEDIATE, AND LOUD, AND CHAOTIC, AND WORLDWIDE.

COVID SORT OF SNUCK IN IN MY VIEW.

EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, ASKED US WILL TELL YOU IN BOTH SITUATIONS, WE HAVE LOTS OF WARNINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.

>> WHAT LESSONS WERE LEARNED FROM 9/11 THAT CAME INTO PLAY DURING OUR RESPONSE TO COVID?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE GROUPS I TALKED TO IS THIS NEW JERSEY EMS TASK FORCE.

AND, THEY CAME TOGETHER ACTUALLY IN THE WAKE OF 9/11.

THEY BASICALLY TO FILL THIS NEED, THIS LACK OF REGIONAL COORDINATION AMONG EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

NOW, NEW JERSEY IS FAMOUS AS A HOME RULE STATE.

EVERYTHING IS LOCAL.

SO, 9/11 UNDERSCORED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SORT OF COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION.

AND SO, THAT GROUP CAME INTO BEING WITH 9/11.

AND REALLY SORT OF FOUND NEW ROLES IN COVID THAT I THINK REALLY UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION.

I THINK THE OTHER REALLY CRITICAL IMPORTANT LESSON GOING FORWARD IS, THE NEED TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND AND INVEST AND CONTINUE TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAME A BIG PART AFTER 9/11.

THESE ARE TRAUMAS AND TRAGEDIES THAT CAN STAY WITH YOU FOR YEARS, AND YEARS.

AND, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE READY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND, OF COURSE, FOR PEOPLE AND 9/11, COVID WAS SORT OF A NEW TRAGEDY IN CERTAIN WAYS.

AND, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHTED HOW IMPORTANT INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES REALLY IS.

>> NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> EXTRA >> COVID KEPT KIDS IN PATTERSON OUT OF THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF.

THEN, IDA CAME ALONG AND FLOODED SUMS OLD BUILDINGS, FORCING THE DISTRICT TO BEGIN THE NEWEST SCHOOL YEAR WITH REMOTE LEARNING.

TODAY, MOST OF PATTERSON'S CHILDREN RETURNED TO HER IN PERSON LEARNING.

WE HEAR FROM JOANNA GAGIS THERE IS STILL CLEANUP WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE ALL OF THE CITIES SCHOOLS CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS.

>> IS A GREAT DAY.

WE JUST TALKED TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS, AND THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

AND THEY ARE ENERGIZED, MOTIVATED, READY TO BE HERE.

>> IS A GREAT DAY FOR MOST STUDENTS IN PATTERSON WHO RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOL BUILDINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 18 MONTHS.

BUT, NOT ALL KIDS GOT TO WALK INTO THE CLASSROOM TODAY, AND THIS TIME, YOU CANNOT HIM COVID.

>> THAT'S DUE TO THE TROPICAL STORM, IDA THAT GOT A LOT OF WATER INFILTRATION.

>> NEARING ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IMPACTED, THIS IS WHY THE ENTIRE DISTRICT STARTED THE YEAR VIRTUALLY LAST WEEK.

BUT, CLEANUP AND MINOR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON ALL BUT TWO'S GOALS.

>> YOU TAKE A SCHOOL 20 AND 24.24, BEING THE WORST.

THE ENTIRE BASEMENT WAS FLOODED, WHICH MEANT THAT THE SHEET ROCK, COMING UP 3 TO 4 FEET WAS WET.

IT HAS TO BE DRIED OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT IT ALL OUT AND PUT NEW SHEET ROCK.

AND THE SAME THING IS 20 IN THE BASEMENT WITH THE INTERIOR IS.

>> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT SCHAFER SAYS THE CHAIN DELAYS CAUSED BY COVID HAS THAT THOUGHT BUILDING WITHOUT A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, OR TCO FROM THE SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

>> WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE ON TRACK AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD IN JULY, BUT THEN, BECAUSE OF THAT DELAY, IT'S JUST NOT READY YET.

SO, I LOOKED AT IT LAST FRIDAY AND IT'S CLOSE.

SO, I'M HOPING THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO GET THE TCO.

>> I KNOW THE KIDS ARE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THEY WERE PROMISED A NEW BUILDING IN SEPTEMBER.

WE WILL REASSURE TIME AND AGAIN IT'LL BE READY.

AND, IT IS NOT.

>> IT PUTS HER KIDS AT A DISADVANTAGE.

IT SEEMS EVERYBODY ELSE IS GONE BACK, AND THEY ARE STILL WAITING TO GO BACK TO IT >> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT IS OPERATED BY THE STATE, SO IT IS OUT OF THE DISTRICT HANDS.

BUT, IF A REMOTE LEARNING OPTION HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE, THE STUDENT WOULD BE LOOKING AT A DELAYED START THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT WOULD MEAN EXTENDING INTO THE SUMMER TO MEET THE HUNDRED AND 80 DAYS.

>> I THINK IT IS ANY SILVER LINING TO THIS CROWD, IT'S THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LEARNING REMOTELY FOR A YEAR.

AND SO, WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE REMOTELY, WE KNOW HOW TO TEACH REMOTELY.

THE MAJORITY OF PATTERSON STUDENTS, TODAY WAS A RETURN TO SOME KIND OF NORMAL.

>> MY SON IS VERY EXCITED TO GET ON THAT BUS THIS MORNING.

YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED THIS MORNING TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> EVEN IF THE NORMAL COMES WITH A FEW NEW ROLES.

>> THERE ARE AIR PURIFIERS IN EVERY ROOM.

STUDENT PARTITIONS, AS WELL AS FREQUENT CLEANING OF THE CLASSROOMS.

IN THE LUNCHROOMS, THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR PARTITIONS WITH THEM, AND THEY ARE HAVE TO RECESS AND HAPPILY EATING SO THAT THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY DISTANCE PROPERLY IN THE LUNCH ROOM.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO MASKING, STUDENTS WILL HAVE TIME ON PLAYGROUNDS, AT LUNCH AND SNACK TIME TO GET A BREAK, BUT SUPERINTENDENT SCHAFER SAYS EVEN THE HIGH TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK, AS LONG AS THEY ARE INDOORS, THEY STAY ON.

>> WILL HE EXAMINE THIS IF WE HAVE THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 90s?

MAYBE WE HAVE TO GIVE, LOOK UP TO THE PRINCIPALS.

GIVE CLASSES A BREAK AND THEY GO FOR A WALK AROUND THE BLOCK BUT THEY HAVE THE MASK.

BECAUSE, I HAVE READ EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING OUT, AND STATES THAT ARE NOT WEARING MASKS, THEY HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF POSITIVITY RATE, AND WHO WANT TO STAY IN.

>> THERE'S NO TIMELINE YET WHEN THE SCHOOLS WILL JOIN THE IN CROWD, BUT THE HOPE IS THAT IT IS JUST A FEW MORE WEEKS.

IN PATTERSON, I AM JOANNA GAGIS, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> SPEAKING OF KIDS HEADING BACK TO , THE 2021 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION SEASON IN NEW JERSEY PROMISES TO BRING INCREASED ATTENTION TO KEY TOPICS AFFECTING THE STATES FEATURE AND ITS VOTERS.

WE'RE HOSTING A SERIES OF VIRTUAL CONVERSATIONS, COVERING ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE WITH THE STATE WITH SUBJECT EXPERTS WITH THE JOURNALISTS.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT NOON FOR OUR FIRST ELECTION COVER STATION WITH MODERATORS JOHN MOONEY, AND JOANNA GAGIS TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN A COVID WORLD.

HAD TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS TO NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO GET THE FIRST ONE.

>> HERE IN NEW JERSEY, THERE ARE NOW ROUGHLY 8500 AFGHANS LIVING AT JOINT BASE LAKEHURST.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO SENATOR BOB MENENDEZ WHO ALONG WITH SENATOR CORY BOOKER TOUR AT LIBERTY VILLAGE AT THE BASE ON FRIDAY.

MENENDEZ SAYS THE BASE CAN TAKE ANOTHER 4500 REFUGEES, WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL TO MORE THAN 13,000.

THOSE REFUGEES ARE BEING HOUSED IN ACCOMMODATION.

EXISTING BUILDINGS, AND A MASSIVE CITY THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTED OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS.

TO COME TO A NEW COUNTRY AND REBUILD YOUR LIFE IS CHALLENGING ENOUGH.

BUT, SOME REFUGEES ALSO FEAR THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION DUE TO THEIR RELIGION.

LEAH MISHKIN SAYS WHY ISLAMOPHOBIA TOOK HOLD IN NEW JERSEY.

NY IS STILL THERE DECADES LATER.

>> NEW JERSEY 11,000 PEOPLE GROWING UP.

HE'S A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN.

HIS PARENTS MOVED FROM SYRIA.

>> GOT DAD GOT HIS PHD IN THE U.S., AND HE MADE IT.

HE MADE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> FAST FORWARD TO THE YEAR 2001 FOR THE WORLD WAS FOREVER CHANGED POST-SEPTEMBER 11th.

AND SO WAS LIFE.

>> 9/11 REALLY PLACED LIGHT ON THE AMERICANS AND MUSLIM AMERICANS IN GENERAL.

THERE WAS A CENSUS IS VISION.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T TRUST YOUR FELLOW AMERICAN.

>> HE WAS IN SECOND GRADE WHEN THE BULLYING STARTED.

IT LASTED ALL THE WAY UNTIL EIGHTH GRADE WHEN HE MOVED TO SYRIA WITH HIS FAMILY.

>> I WOULD HEAR EVERYTHING FROM TERRORISTS, BIN LADEN, SADDAM, GO BLOW YOURSELF UP.

THE ADMINISTRATION NEVER REALLY DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THEY LAUGHED IT OFF.

>> HE SAID HE WANTED TO CHANGE HIS NAME AND THEY ASKED HIS MOM TO STOP GIVING HIM IN MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FOR LUNCH.

>> WANTED TO BE AS GENERIC AND BLAND AS POSSIBLE.

WITH TIME, I BEGAN TO REALIZE YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE ONE IN THE WRONG.

>> IS THAT EVEN CAME TO THE SCHOOL TO TRY TO TEACH HIS CLASS ABOUT HIS CULTURE TO GET THE BULLYING TO STOP.

>> AND ENDED UP WITH ONE OF THE STUDENTS GOING HOME TELLING HIS PARENTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, AND COMING BACK TO THE NEXT DAY BEING LIKE HEY, I'M HERE, BY THE WAY, MY DAD TOLD ME YOU'RE PROBABLY A TERRACE.

>> THE PUBLIC WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT IT WAS ISLAM, THE RELIGION OF 1.5 BILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT CAUSED THE TERRORIST ATTACK, WHEN IN FACT, THE CAUSE OF THE ATTACK WAS A SMALL, TINY GROUP CALLED AL QAEDA THAT WAS IN A ANNISTON THAT HAD AN EXTREMIST INTERPRETATION OF A RELIGION.

THAT INTERPRETATION WAS REJECTED AGAIN, BY 99.9% OF MUSLIMS.

>> SO, A PROFESSOR OF WORKERS LAW SCHOOL FOUND AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR SECURITY, RACE, AND BRIGHTS, AND AUTHOR OF THE RACIAL MUSLIM.

>> WE'VE SEEN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SEEK EXPANSIVE EXECUTIVE POWER TO BE ABLE TO REPORT, EXCLUDE, INVESTIGATE, SURVEIL, THEN PROSECUTE MUSLIMS.

IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHILE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WAS MISAPPROPRIATING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH THE FBI TO FOCUS ON INNOCENT MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH RESOURCES, IF ANY ON THE RISING AND VERY SERIOUS THREAT OF THE FAR RIGHT WING EXTREMISM.

>> ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN OBTAINED BY CBS, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S WARNING THAT OTHER RACIALLY MOTIVATED EXTREMISTS MIGHT TARGET INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS THEY PERCEIVE HAVE BEEN RELOCATED.

OR, HAVE ASSISTANCE WITH RELOCATION, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY OTHER REFUGEE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNRELATED.

>> I RECENTLY ARRIVED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ON THE DALLAS AIRPORT AND IT WAS ENTIRE Q OF AB 200 OR 300 PEOPLE FROM AFGHANISTAN.

A LOT OF THESE REFUGEES ARE SCARED, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, SUBJUGATED TO PREJUDICE OR HATRED.

THEY JUST WANT TO SURVIVE, LIVE AND KIND OF YOU KNOW, PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

>> AMIR IS NOW POLITICAL LEGAL CONSULTANT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

HE'S WON NUMEROUS AWARDS IN DIPLOMACY AND SAYS IT WAS HIS EXPERIENCE BEING BULLIED THAT FUELED HIS DESIRE TO ENACT CHANGE.

>> I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WATCHING THIS THAT IF YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET AN AFGHAN REFUGEE FAMILY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO MEET THEM, TO SHAKE THEIR HAND.

>> 8500 AFGHAN REFUGEES ARE NOW LIVING IN LAKEHURST.

THE STATE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY PREPAREDNESS SAYS THERE'S NO KNOWN OR CREDIBLE THREATS TO THEM AT THIS TIME.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM LEAH MISHKIN.

>> SEXTON COUNTY WILL STOP HOLDING DETAINEES AS OF NOVEMBER 1st.

WE WERE CALLED LATE LAST MONTH THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED A BILL BANNING JAILS FROM ENTERING INTO, OR RENEWING CONTRACTS WITH ICE TO HOUSE DETAINEES.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 45 DETAINEES BEING HELD IN HUDSON COUNTY, AND THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM COME NOVEMBER.

AS WE HEAR FROM NJ SPOTLIGHTS A SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORTER, NANCY ALVARADO.

CIHAK IS A PROGRAM THERE, THEY STARTED TRANSFERRING SOME OF THESE FOLKS TO GEORGIA.

MASSACHUSETTS, NEVADA, REALLY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR ATTORNEYS, FROM THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND SO, THERE IS A FEAR THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN IN HUDSON COUNTY, HUDSON COUNTY OFFICIALS, SOMETIMES I SPOKE TO THEM TODAY, THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

AND, SO, THEY WANT TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO TRY TO KEEP THESE GUYS HERE.

BUT, IN THE END, ICE DECIDES WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE DETAINEES.

>> THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS INVESTIGATING CONGRESSMAN'S FAILURE TO DISCLOSE DOZENS OF STOCK TRANSACTIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

>> HE ADMITTED TO MAKING A MISTAKE BY NOT DISCLOSING THE STOCK TRADES AS IS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

THE CONGRESSMAN APOLOGIZED FOR, IN HIS WORDS, PUTTING OFF DIFFICULT PAPERWORK IN THE CRUNCH OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES.

ADVANCED MEDIA HAS REPORTED THAT THEY RECEIVED ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL TO PLACE HIS STOCK HOLDINGS IN A BLIND TRUST.

>> THIS IS A NONPROFIT INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR STATE GRANTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE IDA.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT TOMORROW.

AN INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR ON THE TENANT HALF-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT PROGRAM WILL BE HELD AT 9:00 A.M.

IT IS HOSTED BY THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH NUMEROUS OTHER BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM WILL OPEN THIS FRIDAY.

BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE WEBINAR DO NEED TO REGISTER.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE.

HERE IS A LOOK AT WALL STREET'S DOCK TRADING FOR TODAY.

THE DEATH TOLL HAVE INCREASED FROM IDA.

THE STORM, CLEANING THE LIVES OF 30 NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

OTHER COUNTIES HAVE NOW BEEN INCLUDED IN THE MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION.

ENABLING HOMEOWNERS IN THOSE COUNTIES TO APPLY FOR DIRECT AID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS HAVE NOW OPENED IN THREE COUNTIES TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH MORE SERVICES, AND GLOUCESTER, MIDDLESEX AND PASSAIC GOOD AND SCOUTING LOCATIONS IN THE OTHER 8 COUNTIES.

31,000 SURVIVORS HAVE APPLIED FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE SO FAR, WITH FEMA APPROVING $5 MILLION IN AID., THE MAXIMUM GRANT FOR HOMEOWNERS IS ABOUT $30,000., THE AVERAGE PAYOUT IS ONLY AROUND $5000.

AND, THAT IS LIKE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO COVER ALL OF THEIR LOSSES.

SO, WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE PITCHING IN, RAMPING UP DONATIONS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

ALSO ROSE COOPER REPORTS ON THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN MANVILLE.

>> IT'S HARD.

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO MY BEST THAT I CAN.

BECAUSE, WE LOSE OUR CARDS, WE HAVE A RENTAL CAR RIGHT NOW.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

>> IMMERSION IS STILL HARD FOR NANCY GONZALEZ.

THE MOMENT TO MANVILLE IN APRIL AND FOR A WHILE, SHE FELT WELCOMED AND RIGHT AT HOME.

>> IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY, VERY CLOSE.

THEY ARE TOGETHER, AND THEY ARE UP A LOT.

>> ON TROPICAL STORM FLOODED THE AREA, GONZALEZ SAYS IT TURNED HER WHOLE LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.

>> SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE INSURANCE IS GOING TO COVER.

>> SO SHE THINKS SHE CAN STOP BY VFW AND GET SOME HELP.

>> WE GOT RID OF A LOT OF ITEMS.

WE PROBABLY ROTATED THROUGH THIS BUILDING PROBABLY 10 TIMES ALREADY OF ITEMS.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT HERE, BUT REALLY, WE ARE DEPLETED NOW.

SEE YOU AT THE VETERANS POST SET UP A RELEASE CENTER FOR RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY THE STORM.

PROVIDING CLEANING KITS AND NONPERISHABLE FOOD.

>> THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO ME.

THIS WAS FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES.

BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS UNIQUE IS THAT A LOT OF THE HOMEOWNERS ARE NEW HOMEOWNERS.

THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED A FLOOD, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.

NO, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEM BUT PUTTING TOGETHER KITS.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING DIANE SAYS SHE APPRECIATES HAVING GONE THROUGH FOUR OTHER FUNDS.

SHE IS PICKING UP SUPPLIES SO SHE CAN CENSOR HER HOME AND HER MOTHER'S HOUSE, WHICH ARE BOTH FLOODED OUT.

>> THEY ARE USED TO IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S GREAT THAT THE VFW AND RED CROSS AND EVERYBODY HELPS OUT.

>> RESIDENTS THAT NEED HELP ARE FREE TO COME HERE TO PICK UP ANYTHING THEY NEED.

AND, FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT MAKE IT, VOLUNTEERS WILL BRING IT TO THEM.

>> RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF FOUNDATIONS HAVE CAVED IN ON HOMES.

A LOT OF HOMES ARE INHABITABLE AT THIS TIME.

ALSO, THE BIGGEST THING IS, CLEANING THE MUD, AND EVERYTHING IN THEIR BASEMENTS.

EVERYTHING IS UPSIDE DOWN, TURNED OVER.

WASHING MACHINES, DRYERS, EVEN FURNACES WERE RIPPED ON AND SOME OF THE HOMES.

SO, RIGHT NOW, IT IS BASICALLY CLEANING UP THE BASEMENT AND ON THE FIRST ONES, THEY CAN AT LEAST GET BACK IN THE HOUSE AND GO BACK TO THEIR LIVES AGAIN.

>> OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATES ARE ALSO GIVING BACK.

IT'S COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR FAMILIES AT THE COUNTY.

AFFECTED BY THE STORM.

>> MUTUALLY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK THAT'S A LESSON THAT WE ARE ALL STILL TAKING.

AND IF IT'S NOT FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, THEN OUR COMMUNITIES WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE.

>> I LOOKED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH, MY FIRST FLOOD WAS IN 1971.

HURRICANE GLORIA.

OUR HOUSE WAS INUNDATED.

WE HAD THE KITCHEN COUNTERS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

SO, I JUST FEEL LIKE I OWE IT TO EVERYONE IN TOWN TO HELP THEM OUT BECAUSE I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY MYSELF, AND LIVED IT.

>> THE VFW WAS STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE FINANCING OF SHOP IN THE CENTER OF TOWN LATER THIS WEEK TO MAKE IT EVEN EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS ITEMS.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US TONIGHT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON OUR WEBSITE AT NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG ALONG WITH OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

FROM THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

AND, PSEG, COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW, LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.